Have you ever craved pasta so deeply, yet settled for anything less than spectacular? Of course you haven’t. Whether you’re a lifelong Dallas resident or just passing through, you deserve the most authentic, soul-satisfying Italian experience possible. That’s precisely why we’ve scoured the city to bring you this definitive list.
MoMo’s Pasta
$$ | (214) 521-3009 | WEBSITE
We often find ourselves at this Italian spot in Dallas after running errands at the grocery store or the bank or the pharmacy or the gym. In other words, we’re lured in whenever we need some comfort and gnocchi. Everything about MoMo’s Pasta looks and feels like any other neighborhood restaurant, but the authentic Italian flavors and the attentive service make it an extreme challenge to drive by without popping in.
You’ll find many of the highlights in the regular menu, a broad selection of dishes that showcases the kitchen’s commitment to traditional recipes. The Penne al Basilico, for instance, when combined with the fresh basil leaves scattered throughout, takes herbal, creamy, and tangy to euphoric levels. Even the pizza crust served as bread, a simple starter with condiments, is baked and seasoned so perfectly that it should be rebranded as a meal in itself.
If you’ve ever wondered where we eat on a “night off,” MoMo’s Pasta is where to find us.
Princi Italia – Dallas
$$ | (214) 739-5959 | WEBSITE
Princi Italia has been on the Dallas scene for a while—and we’ve been huge fans of this cozy, welcoming Italian spot from the very beginning. But after their more recent introduction of that $25 make-your-own-pizza deal, we can now say with confidence that Princi Italia is not only one of the best places to eat Italian in Dallas, but the entire metroplex.
In the evening, the lights in the warm-toned dining room are softened, gentle music plays in the background, and groups gather around tables ordering bottles from their excellent wine selection. It feels like a neighborhood trattoria that doesn’t lose its charm when the dinner rush begins. And while there are many highlights on Princi Italia’s menu, the pizza and pasta section is where you’ll want your focus.
That’s where you’ll find dishes like the praised funghi pizza, the celebrated Fettuccine Funghi pasta, and a rigatoni ala vodka with sausage that we think about every time we crave comfort food.
Adelmo’s Ristorante
$$$ | (214) 559-0325 | WEBSITE
We never fully embraced the idea that a restaurant needed to be difficult to access to be worthwhile. Then we tried the lamb chop special and stuffed mushrooms at Adelmo’s Ristorante. This charming Italian spot excels at fresh, high-quality dishes and attentive service, both of which explain why regulars keep returning despite the parking challenges. Resist the temptation to skip dessert and save room for the cheesecake, instead.
It feels like somebody’s cozy dining room—no strip mall vibes inside, but there could be. Just don’t get too attached to any single server. The welcoming team rotates with knowledgeable staff like Katia and John L, each one making our visit somehow feel like our new favorite experience.
Goodwins
$$ | (214) 272-9677 | WEBSITE
Anyone with a taste for Italian has heard about pasta in Dallas. But there’s eating a casual plate of spaghetti, and then there’s dining on short rib and rigatoni at Goodwins. The food at this trendy hot spot with a speakeasy cocktail lounge in the back is just as good (if not better than) the city’s finest dining—they just so happen to serve it in shareable portions. Every dish, from the Caesar salad to the brussel sprouts, absorbs the restaurant’s incredible atmosphere.
The next time a visitor asks you to suggest just one Italian place, send them to Goodwins. Between the cool speakeasy vibe, the delicious drinks flowing at the bar, and the highest standard of Party Dip, this is Dallas Italian in one fell swoop.
Enoteca Italia
$$ | (972) 685-2112 | WEBSITE
Dallas’s Italian dining scene has beloved staples like Lucia and Carbone’s, modern favorites like Nonna, and the home of the most authentic Neapolitan pizza in the city—Cane Rosso. But the best overall Italian experience? That’s Enoteca Italia. There are certainly standout dishes—short rib gnocchi, seafood linguine, and a beet salad with strawberry pecan dressing—but this isn’t one of those restaurants where the quality falters if you venture beyond a few specialties.
Every section of this impressive, varied menu delivers. Even though the Uptown gem with convenient free parking has been serving since 2015, it’s still always filled with date-night couples, multi-generational families, business lunch meetings, and regulars who haven’t needed a menu in years.
Parigi Restaurant
$$ | (214) 521-0295 | WEBSITE
The $85 prix fixe at Parigi Restaurant could only exist in Dallas, or maybe only at this particular French-American bistro tucked away in a cozy neighborhood. With help from his small team, the chef crafts beautiful, meticulous dishes with thoughtful nods to his French-American fusion, some of which are subtle and others that are big and showy, like the Wild Boar Bolognese with fresh pasta, or the Portobellini Fries with truffle aioli.
The two-hour meal flies past as you get chummy with fellow diners over wine and daily risotto. Fancy plating and seasonal ingredients aside, dinner here is like being pulled into a fun, laid-back gathering. Fair warning: Parigi seats 75 and has limited outdoor seating, which means reservations are wise during peak hours. But if there’s one French-American experience worth navigating the parking for, it’s this one.
Piada Italian Street Food
$ | (469) 608-2381 | WEBSITE
Fast-casual Italian spots are a dime a dozen in Dallas, but most rely on cheap convenience to draw crowds—not fresh ingredients or attentive service. But Piada Italian Street Food has all three in spades. A meal at this modern Italian eatery feels like a portal to a different dining experience, one filled with customizable pasta bowls, health-conscious options, and some of the most efficient counter service in the city.
You might build your own dish with fresh toppings, or enjoy the popular garlic cheese bread that customers rave about. You know you’ve done a meal here right when your table’s filled with hot pasta, accommodating staff who go above and beyond, and a clean, welcoming atmosphere that justifies the slightly higher prices.
Sister Restaurant
$$$ | (214) 888-8660 | WEBSITE
Anyone who appreciates charred carrots and pesto fusilli, and savoring those charred carrots and pesto fusilli in a magical ambiance will adore Sister Restaurant like a dear friend. That is to say, after one meal, you’ll keep returning to this undeniably sophisticated Lower Greenville Italian spot with the enthusiasm of a food lover to their favorite haunt.
The atmosphere is filled with lively energy, the dining room offers an inviting setting, and there’s a creative menu of vegetarian dishes that always impresses. We like coming to this acclaimed establishment with friends for an impromptu beet and avocado salad or pesto fusilli with broccoli, but it’s also perfect for a craft cocktail and some spice-rich dishes at a cozy table.
Vino
$$$$ | (469) 290-6009 | WEBSITE
A night at Vino is as exceptional as it is exceptionally lively. At this Italian dining destination in Dallas, dinner runs about $85 per person (around $65 for the main course, plus $20 for the recommended wine pairing), which positions it among the city’s more upscale Italian spots. That said, it’s clear where your attention is going.
Servers with genuine warmth present each Italian-leaning dish with effortless hospitality, every interaction feels considered, and the evening unfolds like a seamless celebration. Between the spicy rigatoni with its perfect kick, the incredible vodka pasta in a creamy tomato sauce, and the most indulgent raspberry chocolate cake we’ve ever tasted, the deeply satisfying, comfort-heavy cooking will linger in our memories—and our dinner plans—for the foreseeable future.
Via Triozzi
$$$ | (469) 897-5679 | WEBSITE
Via Triozzi’s Lower Greenville location is vibrant and convenient, sure, but this charming Italian spot’s appeal isn’t just olive green walls and a modern, classy aesthetic. The cooking here is as comforting, flavorful, and carefully curated as anything in the neighborhood. You’ll savor rich lasagna layered with perfect pasta sheets and robust meat sauce. Delicately fried eggplant parmesan arrives bubbling with mozzarella and fragrant tomato basil.
That it all goes down in a space filled with a sense of home, packed with people sipping expertly crafted cocktails and chatting happily at their tables, feels like some sort of Dallas dining cheat code. Weekend reservation demand rivals most hotspots. Like the warmth in its atmosphere, Via Triozzi is just the right amount of refined, with standout dishes like the superb chicken cacciatore that hang around in your memory long after the meal is over.
Pane Vino Osteria
$$ | (469) 677-1536 | WEBSITE
You can walk into this charming Italian osteria in Dallas and find all the classic elements you’d expect—a welcoming host, the comforting aroma of fresh bread, and the gentle hum of conversation as you settle into your seat. But what makes Pane Vino Osteria different is the exceptional execution of their Italian cuisine.
You’ll find dishes like Chilean Seabass over mushroom risotto with spinach, artichoke appetizers that burst with flavor, and crab stuffed shrimp entrees that transport you straight to the Italian coast. This is primarily a sit-down dining experience, and though you can certainly walk in, we recommend making reservations before you head over, as the restaurant fills quickly with groups celebrating special occasions like anniversaries.
